EAA Sport Aviation - October 2009

Improved BD- 4
From BedeCorp

In celebration of the BD- 4’s 40th anniversary, BedeCorp of Medina, Ohio, has introduced an updated version of its homebuilt: the BD-4C. BedeCorp designers integrated numerous changes in the BD-4C, mainly to simplify construction. Features include a roomier cabin and a longer fuselage, giving back-seat passengers more room. A state-of-the-art all-glass cockpit has been added for improved visibility and streamlined aesthetics. Other design features include BedeCorp’s new all-metal wing with honeycomb ribs. Learn more by calling 330-239-1468 or send an e-mail to jim@bedecorp.com.

New Eclipse Aerospace Open for Business By James Wynbrandt

Eclipse Aerospace, the new company formed from the bankrupt assets of Eclipse Aviation, opened for business on September 1, 2009. The new owners acquired the assets for $40 million in bankruptcy court and are focusing on caring for the 260 Eclipse 500 twin jets built before production ended in 2008.

“We’re excited that Eclipse is back up and running,” said Mason Holland, chairman and president of Eclipse Aerospace. “Our key focus is to support the customers. Short-term goals are first to get parts out to the fleet as soon as possible, and then modifications and upgrades.”

Mike Press, vice president and owner of E-500 serial number 4, said the upgrades will be performed at two company service centers, one already operational at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) and another soon to open at the company’s base at Albuquerque International Sun-port Airport (ABQ).

“We have basically five main upgrades that we’re working on,” Press said. They include installations of avionics software, ETT (extended tip tanks), and capability for flight into known icing (FIKI).

Ken Ross, president of Eclipse Aerospace’s Service Di-

vision, will oversee the upgrade program. The former owner of North American Jet, a Chicago-based charter company that operates E-500s, Ross has already overseen the upgrades of several aircraft and anticipates strong demand for the upgrades, which will support the company while funding is sought to restart the E-500 production line.

“We know the product; we know the airplane,” Holland said. “It needs to be back into production; it needs to be supported. We decided somebody has to do it. In April, we went to 27 cities in 15 days and sat down with plane owners, pilots, and depositors, and we couldn’t find a single person who didn’t love the plane.”

The response from Eclipse Aviation’s former suppliers has also been encouraging. “We’re in the process of engaging each and every one of the vendors,” Holland said. “They want to work, like anybody else.”

The Eclipse Aerospace principals spoke with EAA President Tom Poberezny in early September to share their plans for resurrecting the company. “We probably will be at AirVenture next year,” said Holland. “We want to be involved with EAA and keep that relationship going.”

Southern Precision Components Inc. has come out with a new wireless, battery-operated, handheld tire pressure and temperature monitor. Sensors crew onto the valve stems and send information to the handheld LCD monitor. Pressures can be read as psi, kPa, bar, or kg/cm². Temperatures can be read in Fahrenheit or Celsius. For more information, visit www.SouthernPrecisionComponents.com or call 706-376-7308.